1/35 Halftrack Beetle

[Frank3k]

I saw this image either here or in another search:



It seems to be the only picture of this vehicle online. A scale model was built here

The vehicle seems to have used the front of a VW Beetle and the tracks and engine from a Kettenkrad.

I have an old kit of the 1/35 CMK Type 82E VW Beetle in the stash - nice kit for the era, but there are better models now. I also have the tracks from an old Tamiya Kettenkrad. I figured that I could combine the two into a larger pickup style vehicle and imply the use of the original Beetle engine, with the Kettenkrad drive wheel driven by the Beetle's rear axle.

The CMK is pretty simple and well molded and the basic surgery went well. I 3D printed an ABS core for the rear and added parts from my junk boxes to fill out the rear section. This is where I am right now. Most of the parts are tacke don right now. I scratchbuilt an engine air intake:







It may be a bit long and impractical, but I'll see how far I can take this.

[arc3371]

Looks very interesting

[Jeffry Fontaine]

This is getting off to a great start with the extended bed.  I am guessing that the vent on the cab rear wall is providing the cooling air intake to the engine?  Looks like there will be plenty of room under the flat bed for a fuel tank and all of the OVE/OVM to be stowed.

[Kerick]

Such a clean work area! The sign of a deranged mind! Just the sort of guy we need!
You could paint the beetle body some bright color and the back half left over military colors with lots of rust and dirt.
This is going to be very cool!

[Frank3k]

It's a new, clean cutting mat. I moved all the debris out of the frame.

Jeff - that is the cooling intake for the engine!

I'm printing a shorter version to see if it looks better.

[Claymore]

 

[GTX_Admin]

 

[Old Wombat]

Frank, I don't know how far you've gotten on your mod's but how about;
1) reducing the gap at the front of the tracks to about half;
2) making two engine air intakes that go either side of the rear window (about half the width of the current one); &
3) move the cargo tray forward to the rear of the cab, or with a much smaller gap (say 0.5mm), the air intakes could drop into the top of the tray* with a toolbox between them &, possibly, a steel-tube-&-mesh barrier behind them.

 



[*: The air intakes would cut across the top of the track-well below the level of the tray.]

[Buzzbomb]

Nice take on this. Be interesting to hear the VW engine whine along with track rattle

[apophenia]

Yep. This is a very cool concept, Frank! 

[Frank3k]

I repiled on Whatif as well -  Most of the dimensions and position are set by the rear axle and the engine. I'm trying to keep the VW mods to a minimum; some farmer needed a vehicle with more grip in the field; he had an old VW and found a broken Kettenkrad and mated the two.
This is what I printed today. Everything is tacked on and the tracks on the other side aren't even on. Modifying the two tracks was easy - the old plastic was the biggest concern. I think it looks a little better now.



There's storage space on top of the rear box, plus about half the volume under it (from the overlap of the two middle wheels to the rear). Plenty of room for cargo. I'll probably add mudguards, which will add some storage space as well. Something like this:

[Kerick]

Personally, I think it looks much better now! On that first original picture I don't know how anyone got in or out.

[raafif]

On that first original picture I don't know how anyone got in or out.

With only a little difficulty I think - a Kombi has the same door shape (tho a little larger).  I expect that farmer had some troubles with the vehicle as Ferry Porsche found with the tracked Kübel (not powerful enough to do much due to the drag in the trackwork & ineffective brakes) 

[Frank3k]

How likely would it be for a farmer in Western Europe (ca 1946-1950) to have a welder? It's either welded joints or bolted (or maybe both) for the mods to this one.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Maybe access to gas welding rig with bottled oxygen and acetylene and some metal rods for brazing the parts together?

[Kerick]

All you would need is the blacksmith in the village to do the parts.

[raafif]

After the German retreat many repair troops would have abandoned their kit.

[Frank3k]

Thanks for all the ideas! The French/Belgian/Dutch/German/Italian farmer collected broken down vehicles and parts, drew up a sketch of what he wanted and took it to the village blacksmith, who had access to recently liberated welding equipment. For a small price and exchange of goods, this was the product.

I skinned the 3D printed ABS skeleton and added some details. This is what I have so far (just needs a few more bits before painting). The green shackles are from an ancient RPM FT-17 kit:



The two hinged hatches are for engine access (with the handle) and for general storage at the very rear:


I also printed some very thin ABS sides to represent either plywood or fabric covered sides. The front wall closest to the cab would have prevented the engine hatch from opening fully, so I modified it (rather than reprint). :




I'm not sure if I want to use the sides. The rear hatch would swing to the side to allow access to the rear cargo hatch.

[Kerick]

Looks pretty good!

[arc3371]

Looks perfect for a forestry service or power company

[Kerick]

Steve says, “How fast will it go? And what color will it be painted?”

[apophenia]

Looks perfect for a forestry service or power company

Too true. Although, in Frank's original DIY farmer scenario, it would also be a handy little hay-hauler on smaller plots.

[Frank3k]

Although I'm liking the forestry angle as well. It would go with the Waldschlepper RS 1500